Video distribution system, video distribution method, information processing device, and video viewing program

ABSTRACT

An information processing device displays a video including an avatar object on a display based on video data received from a server, displays a group to which a distributing user belongs in an identifiable manner in a video view or a video distribution list including images of multiple videos, and sends a display request to display an object in one of the videos to the server.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 16/883,080 filed May26, 2020, claiming the benefit of priority from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2019-120762 filed Jun. 28, 2019, Japanese PatentApplication No. 2019-143497 filed Aug. 5, 2019, and Japanese PatentApplication No. 2020-081090 filed May 1, 2020, the entire contents ofthe prior applications being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The following description relates to a video distribution system, avideo distribution method, an information processing device, and a videoviewing program.

2. Description of Related Art

Referring to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2015-184689, aknown video distribution system creates an animation of a characterobject based on movement (motion) of an actor and distributes a videoincluding the created animation.

In such a video distribution system, an object may be displayed in thevideo by operation of a viewing user. The viewing user may display, forexample, a gift object that is sent to the character object in thevideo.

In a video distribution system such as that described above, asreal-time interaction becomes more active between a distributing userdistributing a video and viewing users viewing the video, there is atendency to increase the number of users viewing the video and thelength of viewing time or the number of times the video is viewed.Therefore, there is a demand for distribution of a video thatfacilitates interaction between a distributing user and viewing users.

SUMMARY

It is an objective of the present disclosure to facilitate interactionof a user distributing a video with viewing users of the video.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

In an aspect, a video distribution system including circuitry isprovided. The circuitry is configured to detect movement of adistributing user that distributes a video, transmit movementinformation based on the detected movement to a server, display an imageon a display based on video data received from the server, send adisplay request to display an object in the video to the server,generate video data including an avatar object based on the movementinformation, store the distributing user in association with a group,and transmit evaluation information in which the group is evaluatedbased on the display request with respect to the group.

In another aspect, a method for distributing a video is provided. Themethod includes, by circuitry of a video distribution system, detectingmovement of a distributing user that distributes a video, transmittingmovement information based on the movement detected to a server,displaying an image on a display based on video data received from theserver, sending a display request to display an object in the video tothe server, generating video data including an avatar object based onthe movement information, storing the distributing user in associationwith a group, and transmitting evaluation information in which the groupis evaluated based on the display request with respect to the group.

In another aspect, an information processing device including circuitryis provided. The circuitry is configured to display a video including anavatar object on a display based on video data received from a server,display a group to which a distributing user belongs in an identifiablemanner in a video view or a video distribution list including images ofmultiple videos, and send a display request to display an object in oneof the videos to the server.

In another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium that storesa video viewing program is provided. The video viewing program, whenexecuted by circuitry, causes the circuitry to display a video includingan avatar object on a display based on video data received from aserver, display a group to which a distributing user belongs in anidentifiable manner in a video view or a video distribution listincluding images of multiple videos, and send a display request todisplay an object in one of the videos to the server.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detaileddescription, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of a videodistribution system.

FIGS. 2A to 2D respectively show user management information, possessionlist information, gift object information, and event information thatare stored in the server shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 schematically shows the positional relationship between a userand a user device in a real space in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a team match event in thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an event participation view displayed on the user device inthe first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an example of a view displayed on the user device in the firstembodiment.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are examples of view transition displayed on the userdevice in the first embodiment. FIG. 7A is a viewing view. FIG. 7B is aviewing view displayed when a gift button is operated. FIG. 7C is aviewing view displaying gift objects.

FIG. 8 is a video distribution list in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedures for calculating accumulatedpoints in the team match event of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedures for determining win anddefeat in the team match event of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an event in a secondembodiment.

FIG. 12 is an event participation view displayed on a user device in thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an example of a video view displayed on the user device inthe second embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a video distribution list displayed on theuser device in the second embodiment.

FIGS. 15A to 15C are a video view, a viewing view when a gift button isoperated, and a viewing view displaying gift objects that are displayedon the user device in the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an example of a video view displayed after an event in thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the procedures for determining a rankbased on different evaluation axes in an event of the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an example of a video in a modification.

FIG. 19 is an example of a video view displayed in an event in amodification.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the procedures for assigning a commonattachment object during the event in the modification shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is an example of a viewing view displayed on a user device in amodification.

The present disclosure, together with objects and advantages thereof,may best be understood by reference to the following description of thepresently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This description provides a comprehensive understanding of the methods,apparatuses, and/or systems described. Modifications and equivalents ofthe methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described are apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art. Sequences of operations are exemplary, andmay be changed as apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, with theexception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order.Descriptions of functions and constructions that are well known to oneof ordinary skill in the art may be omitted.

Exemplary embodiments may have different forms, and are not limited tothe examples described. However, the examples described are thorough andcomplete, and convey the full scope of the disclosure to one of ordinaryskill in the art.

A first embodiment of a video distribution system will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 .

As shown in FIG. 1 , a video distribution system 11 includes multipleuser devices 12 and a server 13. In the video distribution system 11, auser uses a user device 12 to distribute a video including an avatarobject corresponding to the user to another user device 12 of anotheruser via the server 13. A video application program is installed on theuser devices 12 so that a video is viewed and distributed. Hereafter, auser distributing a video is referred to as a “distributing user.” Auser viewing a video distributed by the distributing user is referred toas a “viewing user.” When there is no distinction between thedistributing user and the viewing user, a user is simply referred to asa “user.” When not distributing a video, a distributing user may becomea viewing user viewing a video distributed by another distributing user.The user device 12 corresponds to a distribution device and a viewingdevice.

User Device

The user device 12 may be, for example, a smartphone (multifunctionalphone terminal), a tablet terminal, a personal computer, a game console,a wearable computer such as a head-mounted display, or other informationprocessing devices configured to play a video.

The user device 12 includes a computer processor 20, memory 21, storage22 (storage medium), and a communication interface (I/F) 23. Thecomputer processor 20 is an arithmetic unit that loads an operatingsystem and various programs on the memory 21 from the storage 22 orother storage and executes an instruction retrieved from the memory 21.The computer processor 20 is one or more arithmetic circuits such as acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphic processing unit (GPU), and aneural network processing unit (NPU). The communication I/F 23 isconfigured to exchange data with the server 13 and other user devices 12through a network 14. The network 14 includes various types of networkssuch as a local area network and the Internet. The communication I/F 23is implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of these.

The memory 21 is a primary storage device (storage medium) directlyreadable and writable by the computer processor 20 and is, for example,semiconductor memory. The storage 22 is an auxiliary storage device(storage medium) and is, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk,semiconductor memory, or other storage medium. Multiple storages may becombined and used as the storage 22. The storage 22 stores a videoapplication program 22A, avatar data 22B used for drawing an avatarobject, and other information used for executing the video applicationprogram 22A. The video application program 22A includes a videodistribution program and a video viewing program and switches between adistribution mode in which the user distributes a video and a viewingmode in which the user views a video distributed by another distributinguser in accordance with an instruction of the user. The avatar data 22Bis three-dimensional model data used to create a three-dimensionalanimation. The user device 12 obtains the avatar data 22B from theserver 13 at a predetermined point in time. The avatar data 22Bincludes, for example, skeleton data and mesh data following theskeleton data and rendering the avatar object. The avatar data 22B ismodel data configured to move at least a head, an eye, a mouth, and hairof the avatar object.

The user device 12 includes a sensor unit 24, a speaker 25, a microphone26, an operating interface (I/F) 27, and a display device 28. At leastone of the sensor unit 24, the speaker 25, the microphone 26, theoperating IF 27, or the display device 28 may be provided in the samedevice as the computer processor 20 or may be provided separately fromthe computer processor 20. The sensor unit 24 corresponds to a detector.The display device 28 corresponds to a display.

The sensor unit 24 is a sensor group configured to detect a change inexpressions of the user (including blinking or opening and closing ofmouth), motion of the head, and a change in the position of the userrelative to the sensor unit 24. The sensor unit 24 includes, forexample, at least one of a set including an emitter that emits infraredlight toward the user and an infrared camera that detects the infraredlight reflected from, for example, the face of the user or a setincluding a camera that captures an image of the face of the user and animage processor that performs an image processing on data of the imagecaptured by the camera. The sensor unit 24 may be a sensor other thanthose described above. Alternatively, in addition to the sensorsdescribed above, for example, an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensormay be combined into the sensor unit 24.

The speaker 25 converts sound data into sound and outputs the sound. Themicrophone 26 converts voice input by the user into sound data. Theoperating I/F 27 is, for example, a touchscreen integrated with thedisplay device 28, an operating button provided on a casing of the userdevice 12, a keyboard, a mouse, or a controller. The display device 28outputs various types of image in accordance with an output instructionof the computer processor 20.

The computer processor 20 executes the video application program 22Astored in the storage 22 to be used as an application manager 20A, amotion data generator 20B, and a display controller 20C. The applicationmanager 20A manages the video application program 22A. The applicationmanager 20A sends a request to the motion data generator 20B or thedisplay controller 20C in accordance with a request received from theoperating I/F 27 or the server 13. In addition, the application manager20A sends a request from the motion data generator 20B and the displaycontroller 20C to the server 13 and stores various types of datareceived from the server 13 in the storage 22. The application manager20A corresponds to a movement information transmitting portion and arequest sender. The motion data generator 20B corresponds to a movementdetector. The display controller 20C corresponds to a first displaycontroller, a second display controller, and an identificationinformation display.

The motion data generator 20B obtains detection data of expressions ofthe user, motion of the head, and the position of the user relative tothe sensor unit 24 from the sensor unit 24. The motion data generator20B applies the obtained detection data to the avatar data 22B togenerate motion data.

In the distribution mode, the display controller 20C displays a video inaccordance with data received from the server 13 while displaying theavatar object to which the detection data is applied. In thedistribution mode, the display controller 20C may combine video datacreated by the display controller 20C with data received from the server13 and output a video to the display device 28 in accordance with thecombined data. Alternatively, the display controller 20C may receive theentire data for displaying a video from the server 13 and output thevideo to the display device 28 in accordance with the data. When a videois not distributed or viewed, the display controller 20C retrieves imagedata from the storage 22 and displays various types of view on thedisplay device 28 in response to a request from the application manager20A. A case in which such views are displayed includes, for example,when the distributing user edits the avatar object of the distributinguser and when the setting of the video application program isconfigured. In the viewing mode, the display controller 20C uses videodata received from the server 13 to play a video. The display controller20C may play a data file that has been downloaded and stored in thestorage 22 from the server 13 or may perform a streaming play that playsa video while receiving data from the server 13.

Server

The server 13 will now be described. For example, the server 13 is usedby a service provider that provides a platform service for distributinga video. The server 13 may include, for example, a computer processor30, memory 31, and storage 32, and a communication I/F 33. The computerprocessor 30 has a configuration similar to that of the computerprocessor 20 of the user device 12. The computer processor 30 may beconfigured by a combination of arithmetic circuits. The memory 31, thestorage 32, and the communication I/F 33 have configurations similar tothose of the user device 12. The server 13 may be configured by multipledevices. The computer processor 30, the memory 31, the storage 32, andthe communication I/F 33 may be separately arranged in the devices.

The storage 32 stores a distribution program 32A. The computer processor20 executes the distribution program 32A to be used as a distributionmanager 30A, a video generator 30B, and a purchase processor 30C. Thedistribution manager 30A corresponds to a group registration portion, acalculation portion, and an evaluation portion.

The distribution manager 30A stores various types of data received fromthe user device 12 in the storage 32 and sends requests to the videogenerator 30B and the purchase processor 30C based on requests receivedfrom the user devices 12. The distribution manager 30A also receivesrequests from the video generator 30B and the purchase processor 30C andsends the requests to the user devices 12. More specifically, inresponse to a request from the user device 12, the distribution manager30A sends a list of videos that are currently distributed. Whenreceiving identification information of a video requested from the userdevice 12, the distribution manager 30A distributes video data generatedby the video generator 30B to the user device 12 that has issued therequest. The distribution manager 30A also distributes the entire videodata generated by the video generator 30B or part of video data, such asa message posted to the video or data of an object requested to bedisplayed, to the user device 12 of the distributing user. Thus, thedistributing user can see the message and the object that is requestedto be displayed on the screen of the user device 12.

The video generator 30B includes a physics engine. The video generator30B uses motion data of the avatar object received from the user device12 of the distributing user to generate a video including sound andimages in a virtual space. In addition, the user device 12 of theviewing user sends requests to the video generator 30B to display anobject in the video being viewed and to display a message. The videogenerator 30B executes processes in accordance with the requests. Theobject requested to be displayed is an object displayed in the virtualspace and includes a gift object provided from the viewing user to thedistributing user. Although not necessary, the viewing user may have topay for sending a request to display a gift object. Alternatively, whenthe gift object is displayed in response to the display request, theviewing user may pay the cost.

In addition, the video generator 30B executes a process for displaying amessage received from the user device 12 in the video. The messageincludes, for example, identification information of the viewing user(e.g., account name of user) and the posted date and time in addition tothe content of the message.

The purchase processor 30C executes an object purchase process inaccordance with operation of the user. The purchase process includesexchanging, selling, and transferring of an object in addition topurchasing of compensation (medium) such as coins that are usable in thevideo application program, purchasing of an object by payingcompensation such as coins to obtain a paid object, and obtaining of afree object. The free object may be completely free of compensation ormay be exchangeable with points obtained by viewing a video. Thepurchase processor 30C stores the purchased object as a possession ofthe user in the server 13. The sales of purchasable objects are dividedto, for example, the distributing user and the service provider.

Various types of data stored in the storage 32 of the server 13 will nowbe described. The storage 32 stores asset data 32B, user managementinformation 32C, possession list information 32D, gift objectinformation 32E, and event information 32F.

The asset data 32B is data used to draw a virtual space configuring avideo. More specifically, the asset data 32B includes, for example, dataused to draw a background of the virtual space, audio data such as soundeffect, three-dimensional model data (object model data) used to drawvarious types of object displayed in the video, and texture data.

The object model data includes data of objects that are distinguishedbased on modes in which users use the objects. More specifically, theobject model data includes data of an object that is displayed by thedistributing user and data of a gift object that is provided from theviewing user to the distributing user. The gift object includes aneffect object, an attachment object, and a normal object. The effectobject affects the impression of the entire view of the distributedvideo and is, for example, an object imitating confetti or an objectimitating firework. The attachment object is associated with aparticular part of an avatar object and displayed in the view. Theattachment object is, for example, an accessory attached to the avatarobject (e.g., hat or cap, glasses, cat ears), apparel (e.g., T-shirt),costume, or an object attachable to another avatar object. Theattachment object is provided from the viewing user and then selected bythe distributing user, so that the attachment object is attached to anavatar object. The normal object is a gift object excluding theattachment object and disposed as an object in the virtual space. Thenormal object is, for example, an object imitating plush or bouquet.

The user management information 32C will now be described with referenceto FIG. 2A. The user management information 32C is stored for each user.The user management information 32C includes identification informationof the user (user ID), video distribution history of the user, and videoviewing history of the user. The user management information 32C alsoincludes information related to a coin and a point. The coin is a mediumthat is purchasable by the user and usable in the video applicationprogram or the platform service providing the video application program.The coin may be exchanged with an object such as a gift object oranother medium usable in the video application program. The pointincludes, for example, a viewing bonus point assigned to a user when theuser views a video. In the description, when a medium usable in thevideo application program is not distinguished from an object locatablein a virtual space, the medium and the object are referred to as“elements.”

The possession list information 32D will now be described with referenceto FIG. 2B. The possession list information 32D is stored for each user.The possession list information 32D includes identification informationof the user (user ID) and object identification information of apossession object that can be displayed on a video distributed by theuser. The possession object is, for example, a hat, a T-shirt, or catears. The possession list information 32D also includes informationindicating whether the possession object is attachable to the avatarobject and an attachment part. When the possession object is theattachment object, that is, when the possession object is attachable tothe avatar object, the attachment part is information indicating whichpart of the avatar object the attachment object is attachable to. Theuser may use an object included in the possession list information 32Dof the user in a video distributed by the user. The possession listinformation 32D may include the number of objects that are possessed.

The gift object information 32E will now be described with reference toFIG. 2C. The gift object information 32E is stored for each user. Thegift object information 32E includes identification information (userID) of the distributing user, object identification information of agift object, the number of gift objects, and identification information(user ID) of a viewing user serving as a provision user that hasrequested to display a gift object. The gift is an element of the videoapplication program usable in an object or the video applicationprogram. For example, when a user has a gift object in the gift objectinformation 32E and another distributing user is distributing a video,it may be configured so that the user is allowed to request that thegift object be displayed on the video or be provided to the distributinguser but is not allowed to use the gift object in a video distributed bythe user. In this case, when a user obtains a gacha point by lot andexchanges the gacha point with a gacha ticket, the user is not allowedto use the gacha ticket. At this time, the gift object information 32Eassociated with the user includes identification information of thegacha ticket.

The event information 32F will now be described with reference to FIG.2D. The event information 32F relates to history of a team match eventheld in the video distribution service. For each team, the eventinformation 32F includes identification information of users belongingto the team. For each user, the event information 32F includes thelength of viewing time, the number of distribution days, firstaccumulated points based on free gift objects, and second accumulatedpoints based on paid gift objects. The first accumulated points areaccumulated when a free gift object is requested to be displayed in thevideo. A predetermined amount of points may be added to the firstaccumulated points for each free gift object regardless of the type offree gift object. Alternatively, different points may be assigned inaccordance with the type of free gift object. For example, when the giftobject is a star stamp, one point may be assigned. When the gift objectis firework, five points may be assigned. When a paid gift object isrequested to be displayed in the video, the second accumulated pointsare accumulated in accordance with, for example, compensation for thepaid gift object. For example, as more coins or other media are neededto obtain a paid gift object, more points may be assigned to the secondaccumulated points. A distributing user to which a large amount of firstaccumulated points and second accumulated points are assigned has atendency to have a large number of viewing users, who are dedicated fansof the distributing user (for example, viewing user that provides a lotof gift objects to the distributing user).

The length of viewing time (total length of viewing time) is theaccumulated total of time for which a video distributed by thedistributing user has been viewed during the period of the event. Forexample, it is assumed that when a video is distributed for the firsttime during the period of the event, viewing user A viewed the video fortwenty minutes, viewing user B viewed the video for fifteen minutes, andviewing user C viewed the video for ten minutes. In the firstdistribution, the length of time the video is viewed is 45 minutes. “45minutes” is registered to the event information 32F as the length ofviewing time. When the length of time the video is viewed for the secondtime during the period of the event is 100 minutes, “100 minutes” isadded to the length of viewing time (45 minutes) in the eventinformation 32F, and the length of viewing time becomes 145 minutes. Thelength of viewing time of a distributing user has a tendency to increasewhen there is a large number of at least one of viewing users whointeracted with the distributing user in the past, viewing users who arefriends with the distributing user, or viewing users who view a videodistributed by the distributing user a number of times, that is,“repeaters.” More specifically, when such a distributing user starts todistribute a video, viewing users who are related with the distributinguser view the video regardless of the number of gift objects.

The number of distribution days indicates the number of days on whichthe distributing user distributes a video during the period of theevent. A distributing user having a large number of “distribution days”includes a user who continues to distribute a video even without havingrepeaters or fans. Such a distributing user is, for example, a user whohas just started distributing a video.

The positional relationship between the distributing user and the userdevice 12 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3 . In thedescription, the user device 12 used to distribute a video and the userdevice 12 used to view a video are embodied in smartphones. Thedistributing user 100 faces the user device 12 so that at least the faceof the distributing user 100 is included in a detection range 101 of thesensor unit 24, and runs a distribution application program. At thistime, the distributing user 100 sets the distribution applicationprogram to the distribution mode. When the distributing user 100operates to start distribution in the distribution mode, motion data issent from the user device 12 to the server 13. During the distributionof a video, the video of a virtual space including an avatar object isdisplayed on the display device 28 of the user device 12 of thedistributing user 100. The point of view of the video is located on theposition of the sensor unit 24. The position of the avatar objectchanges in accordance with the relative distance between thedistributing user 100 and the sensor unit 24. For example, when thedistributing user 100 moves away from the sensor unit 24 in theY-direction in FIG. 3 and a relative distance L between the distributinguser 100 and the user device 12 is increased, the change in the relativedistance L is reflected on the position of the avatar character in thevirtual space, and the avatar character moves in a rearward direction inthe view.

The team match event in the video distribution service will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 4 . A distributing user 100participating in the team match event belongs to one of the two teams. Aviewing user 102 viewing the video issues a display request 105 torequest that a gift object be displayed in the video as indicated witharrows in FIG. 4 . Also, the distributing user 100 may act as a viewinguser who views a video distributed by other distributing users 100 andissue the display request 105 of an object to the other distributingusers 100.

On condition that a request for displaying a gift object is issued orthat a gift object is displayed in a video, the server 13 addspredetermined points to the accumulated points stored in the eventinformation 32F associated with the distributing user 100 whodistributes the video. Thus, the accumulated points are updated. Inaddition, the server 13 calculates the total value of the accumulatedpoints of the distributing users 100 belonging to each team. Further,among the distributing users 100 belonging to each team, the server 13calculates the total of accumulated points of a predetermined number ofdistributing users 100 having higher accumulated points (e.g., top fiveusers for each team). The server 13 calculates an obtainment ratio, thatis, a ratio of the total value of accumulated points of the topdistributing users to the total value of accumulated points of all ofthe distributing users participating in the event. The server 13evaluates each team based on the total value of accumulated points andthe obtainment ratio of the team to determine whether the team wins orloses. Information indicating whether the team wins or loses correspondsto evaluation information.

In the period of the team match event, the distributing user 100 viewsvideos of other distributing users 100 belonging to the same team andissues display requests 105 of a gift object. This activatescommunication between the distributing users 1X). A viewing user 102 whodoes not belong to a team views a video of his or her favoritedistributing user 100. The viewing user 102 issues a display request ofa gift object or views a video of another distributing user 100 in theteam to which the favorite distributing user 100 belongs. This createsan opportunity for the distributing user 100 and the viewing user 102 toview a video of a new distributing user 100.

An example of transition of the views displayed in the user device 12 inthe team match event will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to10 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , an event participation view 200 is displayed on theuser device 12. The event participation view 200 is displayed byselecting, for example, a banner of the team match event displayed inthe view when running the video application program. The eventparticipation view 200 displays a selection button 201 for selecting oneteam and a selection button 202 for selecting the other team. When adistributing user selects one of the selection buttons 201 and 202, theuser device 12 sends an event participation request includinginformation of the selected team to the server 13. The server 13registers information of the distributing user to the event information32F based on the received event participation request. The server 13 mayhave an upper limit on the number of people who belong to one team. Forexample, when the number of participants in the team reaches the upperlimit, the displaying of the event participation view 200 is disabled.

FIG. 6 is a video view 110 displayed on the user device 12 of thedistributing user. The face of an avatar object 111 changes inaccordance with changes in expressions of the distributing user. Thehead of the avatar object 111 moves in accordance with motion of thehead of the distributing user. The position of the avatar object 111changes in accordance with the relative distance between thedistributing user 100 and the sensor unit 24. The video view 110displays messages 112 posted from the viewing users for a predeterminedperiod. The video view 110 also displays a message 112 output from theserver 13 in accordance with an event that occurs during distribution ofthe video. When detecting an event such as a viewing user starting toview or issuing a display request of a gift object, the server 13displays a message 112 indicating, for example. “Entered room” in thevideo view 110. Also, the server 13 displays a message 112 indicating,for example, “Hat Sent” with the account name of the user in the videoview 110. In addition, the video view 110 displays a distribution switchbutton 113 and a possession list view button 114. The distributing userselects the distribution switch button 113 to start to distribute avideo or stop distributing the video. The distributing user may selectthe possession list view button 114 to display the list of objectsconfigured to be displayed in the video based on the possession listinformation 32D. The distributing user may select an object from thelist and display the selected object in the video.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are viewing views 130 displayed in the user device 12 ofthe viewing user. The viewing view 130 is displayed by selecting onevideo from a video distribution list.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the viewing view 130 includes the avatar object111, a message posting button 131 and a gift button 132. When theviewing user selects the message posting button 131, an entry field isdisplayed. When the viewing user inputs a message to the entry field,the message 112 is displayed in the viewing view 130. When the viewinguser selects the gift button 132, a list is displayed in the view basedon the possession list information 32D. When the distributing user isparticipating in the team match event, team identification information212 is displayed in the viewing view 130. The team identificationinformation 212 is, for example, a banner indicating the name of theteam in which the distributing user is participating. When supporting aparticular team, the viewing user refers to the team identificationinformation 212 to view a video of the supporting team.

FIG. 7B is a viewing view 130 displayed when the gift button 132 isselected. The viewing view 130 displays a gift list 135. The gift list135 displays gift objects in each category. In FIG. 7B, the gift list135 displays normal objects 222 included in the gift object information32E. The gift objects displayed in the gift list 135 include anattachment object and an effect object. When the viewing user selects anormal object or an effect object and selects an enter button 136, adisplay request including identification information of the object issent from the user device 12 to the server 13 and the object isdisplayed in the video. At this time, the purchase processor 30C of theserver 13 subtracts predetermined coins or points from the coins orpoints in the user management information 32C in accordance with theselected object. When the viewing user selects an attachment object, adisplay request including identification information of the object issent from the user device 12 to the server 13. The identificationinformation of the gift object is stored in the possession listinformation 32D of the distributing user distributing the video. Whenthe viewing user issues a display request of an object, the videodisplays a message notifying that the object is sent.

FIG. 7C is a viewing view 130 including the normal objects 222 and aneffect object 223. The server 13 stores the accumulated points in theevent information 32F in accordance with a gift object requested to bedisplayed by the viewing user. When an attachment object is requested tobe displayed and the distributing user selects the attachment object,the avatar object 111 wearing the attachment object is displayed.Alternatively, the attachment object may be automatically attached tothe avatar object 111 and displayed in the order of the display requestissued by the viewing user.

FIG. 8 is a video distribution list view 120 displayed after the teammatch event ends. The video distribution list view 120 displaysthumbnail images 121 indicating video channels that are distributedlive. When a video is being distributed by a distributing user whobelonged to the team that won in the team match event, an indication121A is displayed to be distinguished from a normal thumbnail image 121.The indication 121A is, for example, a gold frame. When the distributinguser who won in the team match event is displayed in a distinguishablemanner as described above, the degree of attention of the viewing usersto the video of the distributing user is increased, so that the effectof attracting users to the video is increased.

After the team match event ends, the distribution manager 30A of theserver 13 determines a rank of a viewing user who requested to display agift object based on the gift object information 32E and displays therank in the display device 28 of the user device 12. The rank may bedetermined based on the number of display requests of a gift object ormay be determined based on compensation such as coins or points neededwhen the viewing user purchases a gift object.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 , operations of the user device 12 andthe server 13 will now be described along the procedures of processesexecuted in the video application program.

The procedures of a team match event process executed by the server 13will now be described with reference to FIG. 9 . For each videodistributed during the period of the event, the distribution manager 30Adetermines whether a display request of a gift object is received fromthe user device 12 of the viewing user (step S1). When it is determinedthat the display request of a gift object is not received (step S1: NO),the distribution manager 30A continues to wait for receiving the displayrequest.

When it is determined that the display request of a gift object isreceived (step S1: YES), the distribution manager 30A determines whetherthe gift object of the display request is an object (free gift object)corresponding to a free gift, which is free of compensation such ascoins (step S2). When it is determined that the gift object of thedisplay request is a free gift object (step S2: YES), the distributionmanager 30A adds points corresponding to the free gift to the firstaccumulated points in the event information 32F associated with thedistributing user distributing the video (step S3). When it isdetermined that the gift object of the display request is an object(paid gift object) corresponding to a paid gift (step S2: NO), thedistribution manager 30A adds points corresponding to compensation forthe paid gift to the second accumulated points in the event information32F (step S4).

The distribution manager 30A determines whether the team match event hasended (step S5). When it is determined that the team match event has notended (step S5: NO), the distribution manager 30A returns to step S1 andrepeats the above process for each video distributed during the periodof the event.

A process for determining win and defeat in the team match event willnow be described with reference to FIG. 10 . The distribution manager30A obtains the accumulated points for each team based on the eventinformation 32F (step S10). In this step, the first accumulated pointsand the second accumulated points of each team are obtained.

Also, the distribution manager 30A calculates the point obtainment ratioof the top distributing users based on the event information 32F (stepS11). More specifically, a first total value and a second total valueare calculated. The first total value is a total value of the firstaccumulated points and the second accumulated points of all of thedistributing users. The second total value is a total value of the firstaccumulated points and the second accumulated points of the topdistributing users in each team. The obtainment ratio, that is, theratio of the second total value to the first total value, is calculatedfor each team.

The distribution manager 30A determines win and defeat based on thefirst accumulated points and the obtainment ratio calculated in step S11of each team (step S12). For example, the distribution manager 30A mayadd the accumulated points and the obtainment ratio of each team anddetermine that a team having the higher added value wins. Thedistribution manager 30A may multiply at least one of the accumulatedpoints and the obtainment ratio of each team by a coefficient beforeadding them.

The distribution manager 30A assigns a reward to the winning team (stepS13). More specifically, the distribution manager 30A displays thethumbnail image of a distributing user who belonged to the winning teamin a manner distinguishable from other distributing users in thedistribution list.

The advantages of the present embodiment will now be described.

(1) The winning team is determined based on the points corresponding toa display request of an object. This creates an opportunity for thedistributing users belonging to a group to cooperate with each other.Thus, interaction between the distributing users is enhanced. A groupsupported by a viewing user may include an “unviewed video distributinguser.” that is, a distributing user distributing videos any of whichhave not been viewed by the viewing user. Since the opportunity iscreated for the viewing user to view a video distributed by such anunviewed video distributing user, chances of viewing the video areincreased. This may increase the length of time a video is viewed, thenumber of viewing users, and the number of times the video is viewed.

(2) The video distribution list displays the indication 121A forrecognizing that the video belongs to the winning team. The viewing usermay refer to the indication 121A when selecting a video to view. Whenthe video distribution list displays the indication 121A, the degree ofattention to the video having the indication 121A is increased. Anincrease in the number of viewing users is expected. This increasesmotivation of the distributing user for winning in the team match event.

(3) The predetermined points are accumulated for each group inaccordance with a display request of a free object. The distributinguser shows a performance such that the video obtains a lot of free giftobjects. This activates the video distribution service.

(4) The predetermined points are accumulated for each group inaccordance with a display request of a paid object. The distributinguser distributes a performance such that the video obtains a lot ofvaluable gift objects. This activates the video distribution service.

(5) The video view displays the group of a distributing user in anidentifiable manner. This allows the viewing user to readily select avideo of a distributing user who belongs to the supporting group.

A second embodiment of a video distribution system will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 11 to 17 .

The team match event in the video distribution service will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 11 . A distributing user 100participating in the team match event belongs to one of the four teams“A” to “D.” A viewing user 102 who views a video selects a video of adistributing user to view the selected video as indicated with an arrowin FIG. 11 . Also, the distributing user 100 may act as a viewing userwho views videos distributed by other distributing users 100 to view thevideos of the distributing users 100.

In the team match event, the four teams are evaluated in accordance withparameters of three different evaluation axes, that is, a parameterrelated to the length of viewing time for each team (first evaluationaxis), a parameter related to the number of distribution days (secondevaluation axis), and accumulated points based on gift objects (thethird evaluation axis). The parameter related to the length of viewingtime is an average of the length of viewing time in the eventinformation 32F corresponding to the distributing users belonging to theteam. The average of the length of viewing time is calculated by, forexample, adding the length of viewing time of all of the distributingusers belonging to the team and dividing the added value by the numberof distributing users. When calculating the average of the length ofviewing time, the length of viewing time of a distributing user may beomitted if the length of viewing time in the event information 32F isless than one minute.

The number of distribution days is an average of distribution days inthe event information 32F corresponding to the distributing usersbelonging to the team. The average of distribution days is calculatedby, for example, adding the distribution days of all of the distributingusers belonging to the team and dividing the added value by the numberof distributing users. When calculating the average of distributiondays, the distribution days of a distributing user may be omitted if thedistribution days in the event information 32F is less than one day.

The accumulated points are calculated based on the first accumulatedpoints and the second accumulated points in the event information 32Fcorresponding to the distributing users belonging to the team. Theaccumulated points are calculated in accordance with, for example, anexpression such as “first accumulated points+second accumulatedpoints×10.”

Since the units differ between the evaluation axes, a rank is determinedfor each evaluation axis, and points are assigned in accordance with therank. In an example, for each evaluation axis, forty points are assignedto the team in the first place. Thirty points are assigned to the teamin the second place. Twenty points are assigned to the team in the thirdplace. Ten points are assigned to the team in the fourth place. Thepoints obtained from each evaluation axis are added, and the rank isdetermined based on the amount of the added points. The points assignedbased on each evaluation axis correspond to a first value, a secondvalue, and a third value.

A distributing user who contributes to the winning of the team byincreasing the parameter related to the length of viewing time of theteam and the parameter related to the number of distribution days is notlimited to a distributing user who has a lot of fans. Even a new userwho has just stated distributing a video or a user who has a fewrepeaters may contribute to winning of the team by at least increasingthe number of distribution days or viewing a video of a distributinguser belonging to the same team to increase the length of viewing time.The team match event triggers to promote users to view videos of theusers belonging to the same team and creates an opportunity to view avideo of a new distributing user, that is, a distributing userdistributing a video that has not been viewed before. A team having highaccumulated points has a tendency to include a distributing user havinga lot of fans or a relatively large number of distributing users havingfans.

The distributing user 100 participating in the team match event maytransfer from the belonging team to another team during the period ofthe event. For example, a distributing user 100 belonging to team A mayleave team A and newly belong to team B. At this time, the length ofviewing time, the number of distribution days, the first accumulatedpoints, and the second accumulated points that are added to the eventinformation 32F associated with team A by distributing a video of thedistributing user 100 while belonging to team A are reset. In addition,since the distributing user 100 starts to belong to team B, the lengthof viewing time, the number of distribution days, the first accumulatedpoints, and the second accumulated points obtained by distributing avideo of the distributing user 100 are added to the event information32F associated with team B. That is, the length of viewing time, thenumber of distribution days, the first accumulated points, and thesecond accumulated points of the distributing user 100 when belonging toteam A cannot be carried over to team B.

An example of transition of the views displayed in the user device 12 inthe team match event will now be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to16 .

As shown in FIG. 12 , an event participation view 205 is displayed onthe user device 12. The event participation view 205 is displayed byselecting, for example, a banner of the team match event displayed inthe view when running the video application program. The eventparticipation view 205 displays selection buttons 205A to 205D forselecting each team. When a user selects one of the selection buttons205A to 205D, the user device 12 sends an event participation requestincluding information of the selected team to the server 13. The server13 registers information of the user to the event information 32F basedon the received event participation request. The server 13 may have anupper limit on the number of people who belong to one team. For example,when the number of participants in the team reaches the upper limit, thedisplaying of the event participation view 205 is disabled.

FIG. 13 is a video view 110 displayed on the user device 12 of thedistributing user. The video view 110 may display a team identificationindication 122 of the team to which the distributing user belongs inaddition to the avatar object I 11 and the message 112. The teamidentification indication 122 is an image that differs in color or shapebetween teams.

The video view 110 also displays a sound switch button 115 and acollaboration distribution button 116 in addition to the distributionswitch button 113. The distributing user operates the sound switchbutton 115 to switch between activation and deactivation of distributionof a sound. The distributing user selects the collaboration distributionbutton 116 to see the status of the collaboration distribution. In thecollaboration distribution, voice of the viewing user reflects the videothat is being viewed. The collaboration distribution button 116 isdisplayed only when the distributing user permits the feature of thecollaboration distribution. When the distributing user selects thecollaboration distribution button 116, identification information of theviewing user whose voice is reflecting and a button for instructing toend the collaboration distribution are displayed.

FIG. 14 is the video distribution list view 120 displayed on the displaydevice 28 of the user device 12 when the video application is in theviewing mode during the period of the event. The video distribution listview 120 displays thumbnail images 121 indicating video channels thatare distributed live. The team identification indication 122 isdisplayed on the thumbnail image 121 corresponding to a videodistributed by a distributing user belonging to a team so that the teamof the distributing user is identified. The team identificationindication 122 is not displayed on the thumbnail image 121 correspondingto a video of a distributing user who does not belong to a team. In thevideo distribution list view 120, the team identification indication 122allows the viewing user to identify a distributing user belonging to theteam that the viewing user wishes to support and view the video of thedistributing user.

As shown in FIG. 15A, the viewing view 130 includes a collaborationdistribution button 133 in addition to the avatar object 111, themessage posting button 131, and the gift button 132. In addition, theviewing view 130 may display the team identification indication 122. Themessage 112 includes a message posted by the viewing user, a messageposted from another viewing user, and a message automatically postedfrom the server 13 based on an action of a viewing user such as “Enteredroom” or “Sent bouquet.”

When the viewing user selects the collaboration distribution button 133,a collaboration request is sent from the user device 12 of the viewinguser to the server 13. The server 13 sends the collaboration request tothe user device 12 of the distributing user. When the distributing useroperates to accept the collaboration request, the server 13 reflectssound transmitted from the user device 12 of the viewing user in thevideo.

FIG. 15B is a viewing view 130 displayed when the gift button 132 isselected. The viewing view 130 displays the team identificationindication 122 in addition to the gift list 135 and the enter button136.

FIG. 15C is a viewing view 130 in which gift objects are displayed. Theviewing view 130 displays the normal objects 222 such as a rabbit plush,the effect object 223 such as firework, and an attachment object 302such as cat ears. The server 13 stores the accumulated points in theevent information 32F in accordance with a gift object requested by theviewing user to be displayed.

FIG. 16 is a view displayed based on the result of the event after theevent ends. For example, a common attachment object 302 is assigned tothe distributing users belonging to the team in the first place of theevent. Information of the assigned attachment object 302 is registeredto the possession list information 32D. The attachment object 302 is,for example, a T-shirt and has a common color or shape. The T-shirtshows an image that identifies the team such as the same pattern or theteam logo. FIG. 16 shows an attachment object 302 including an image302A that identifies the team.

Among the distributing users belonging to teams in places other than thefirst place of the event, the attachment object 302 is assigned to auser having a high evaluation for the three evaluation axes and a userhaving a high evaluation for one evaluation axis within the team. Forexample, ranks are determined within the team based on each of the threeevaluation axes, and points are assigned in accordance with the ranks.The attachment object 302 is assigned to top users having high totalpoints. Alternatively, the attachment object 302 is assigned to topusers having high accumulated points based on the display request of agift object.

As described above, when the common attachment object is assigned to theusers as a reward of the event, a sense of togetherness of the users isincreased so that, for example, the users wearing the same attachmentobject perform a collaboration distribution. This activatescommunication between the users.

A process for determining win and defeat in the team match event willnow be described with reference to FIG. 17 . The distribution manager30A obtains the length of viewing time of each team (step S110). Morespecifically, for each team, the distribution manager 30A obtains thelength of viewing time of the users belonging to the team and calculatesan average of the length of viewing time. The distribution manager 30Aalso obtains the accumulated points of each team (step S111). At thistime, the distribution manager 30A calculates the accumulated points inaccordance with, for example, an expression such as “first accumulatedpoints+second accumulated points×10.”

The distribution manager 30A also obtains the number of distributiondays of each team (step S112). More specifically, an average of thenumber of distribution days is calculated by adding the number ofdistribution days of the users belonging to the team and dividing theadded value by the number of users.

The distribution manager 30A calculates the obtained points of each teambased on the length of viewing time, the accumulated points, and thenumber of distribution days (step S113). More specifically, thedistribution manager 30A determines a rank based on the length ofviewing time of each team and assigns points to the team in accordancewith the rank. The distribution manager 30A also determines the rankbased on the accumulated points of each team and assigns points to theteam in accordance with the rank. The distribution manager 30A alsodetermines a rank based on the number of distribution days and assignspoints to the team in accordance with the rank. The distribution manager30A adds the points that are assigned in accordance with the rank ofeach evaluation axis to calculate the obtained points of each team.

Next, the distribution manager 30A determines the rank based on theobtained points (step S114). The distribution manager 30A assigns areward to the users based on the rank (step S115). More specifically, acommon attachment object is assigned to all of the users belonging tothe team in the first place. In addition, an attachment object isassigned to a user having a high rank within a team based on theevaluation axes.

The advantages of the present embodiment will now be described.

(6) Points are assigned to each team to which a distributing userbelongs based on the first evaluation axis related to the length ofviewing time and the second evaluation axis related to the distributionstate, and the team is ranked based on the points. A distributing usermay view a video of another distributing user to increase the length ofviewing time, thereby contributing to the team. Also, the distributinguser may continuously distribute a video, thereby contributing to theteam. The ranking of the teams includes an element related tocooperation of the users and an element related to effort of individualusers so that the rank of a team may be increased without depending onthe number of fans of a distributing user and experiences ofdistributing videos. Thus, even a distributing user who is a beginner ora distributing user having a few fans may contribute to the rank of theteam. Such a distributing user participates in the team match eventwithout hesitation. This activates the entire video distribution system.

In the video distribution system described above, a distributing userdistributing a video may become a viewing user who views a video ofother distributing users. When interaction between the distributingusers is activated, it is expected that interaction is consequentlyactivated in the entire video distribution system. Activation ofinteraction in the entire video system may increase the length ofviewing time of a video, the number of viewing users, and the number oftimes a video is viewed.

(7) The teams are ranked based on the third evaluation axis related to arequest to display a gift object in a video in addition to the firstevaluation axis related to the length of viewing time and the secondevaluation axis related to the distribution state. The distributingusers belonging to the team may issue a request to display a gift objectto each other, thereby contributing to the ranking of the team.

(8) The rank of the team is determined based on each evaluation axis,and points are assigned to the team in accordance with the rank. Thus,while the evaluation axes have different units, the evaluations based onthe multiple evaluation axes are taken into consideration whendetermining the rank.

(9) The same attachment object is assigned to the distributing usersbelonging to the same team in accordance with the rank. This increases asense of togetherness of the distributing users, thereby increasingopportunities for a distributing user to view videos of otherdistributing users.

(10) The video distribution list is displayed so that the team of adistributing user is identifiable. Thus, the viewing user readilyselects a video of the supporting team.

The embodiments may be modified as follows. The embodiments and thefollowing modifications can be combined as long as the combinedmodifications remain technically consistent with each other.

In the embodiments, the video distribution system is a system in which adistributing user distributes a video including an animation of anavatar object corresponding to the distributing user. Instead, the videodistribution system may be a system that distributes a video that doesnot include an animation of the avatar object corresponding to thedistributing user and allows a viewing user to participate in. Forexample, a distributing user may distribute a video of a game that thedistributing user plays. When a player character corresponding to thedistributing user exists, the player character may be or may not bedisplayed in the video of the game. The player character does not haveto exist in the game. The content of the game is not particularlylimited. For example, the game may be, for example, a role-playing game,a shooter game, an action game, a racing game, a fighting game, a socialsimulation game, a romance simulation game, a puzzle game, a card game,a sports game, and a rhythm game.

A viewing user may use the user device 12 of the viewing user or anotherdevice to issue a display request of an image displayed in a video toparticipate in the video. The other device is a device configured tocommunicate with the server 13 or the user device 12.

The image requested for display by the display request may be an imageof an object in a virtual space of the game, an image of a message, oran image that notifies that viewing has started.

The object may be an object advantageous to progress in the game inaddition to the gift objects that are described in the embodiments. Theobject advantageous to progress in the game is, for example, an itemused by the player character such as a weapon, a protective guard, aconveyance, clothes, food, medicine, and currency, an item that changesa parameter such as life (physical strength) of the player character tobe advantageous to progress in the game, an item that directly attacksan opponent character without being used by the player character (e.g.,missile launched to opponent character), or a character that cooperateswith the player character to advance the game.

The object may be an object that is disadvantageous to progress in thegame. Such an object may be, for example, an object that hindersmovement of the player character, an item that changes a parameter suchas life (physical strength) of the player character to bedisadvantageous to progress in the game, or an opponent character. Theobject may be displayed in a display region corresponding to a storeroomor the like associated with the distributing user in addition to orinstead of a display region corresponding to the main view in which thegame proceeds.

FIG. 18 is an example of a video that displays a play character 250 thatmoves based on an input operation of the distributing user and anopponent character 251. The play character 250 performs an action suchas a move or an attack in accordance with an input operation of theuser. An object 252 is sent from a viewing user to apply damage to theopponent character 251. This configuration also allows the distributinguser and the viewing user to cooperate to play the game and enhancesinteraction between the distributing user and the viewing user.

As described above, even when the viewing user participates in a videoby requesting that an image displayed in the video be displayed in thevideo, the video may be evaluated based on at least one of the number oftimes the video is viewed, the length of viewing time, the number oftimes the video is distributed, the length of distribution time, and thenumber of display requests of an object in the same manner as theembodiments.

The viewing user may participate in a video by requesting that a soundoutput from the video be output from the video.

The viewing user may be allowed to change various types of parametersassociated with the distributing user such as life, attack power, anddefense power to be advantageous to progress in the game.

Compensation for participation of the viewing user in the video may ormay not be needed.

In the first embodiment, the wining team is determined based on thefirst accumulated points based on the display request of a free giftobject and the obtainment ratio of the top distributing users. Thewinning team may be determined based on a display request of a giftobject. For example, the winning team may be determined based on atleast one of the total value of the first accumulated points of eachteam, the total value of the second accumulated points of each team, thetotal value of the first accumulated points and the second accumulatedpoints of each team, the ratio of the second accumulated points to thefirst accumulated points, or the ratio of the first accumulated pointsto the second accumulated points. The first accumulated points may beadded to points obtained by multiplying the second accumulated points bya coefficient (for example, “first accumulated points+10×secondaccumulated points”) for each team and compared to determine the winningteam.

In the first and second embodiments, win or defeat of two or four teamsin the team match event is determined to evaluate each team. The numberof teams may be any plural number. The evaluation of each team is notlimited to win or defeat. For example, the evaluation may be based on anevaluation axis such as “the number of free gifts,” “the number of paidgifts.” and “the total number of gifts.” It may be configured not todetermine win or defeat. An indication based on this evaluationinformation may be displayed in the video distribution list. That is,different indications evaluated based on different evaluation axes(parameters) are displayed in the video distribution list.

In the first embodiment, the viewing view including the avatar objectdisplays the team identification information 212 so that the team towhich the distributing user belongs is identifiable (FIG. 7A). Insteador in addition, team identification information associated with athumbnail image of a video may be displayed in the video distributionlist displaying a list of videos that are being distributed. Forexample, team identification information may be a frame surrounding thethumbnail image or an icon (badge). The same attachment object may beattached to avatar objects belonging to the same team so that the teamto which the distributing user belongs is identifiable.

In the first embodiment, the reward is presentation of the indication121A in the video distribution list in a manner allowing for recognitionof being belonged to the team that won. In the second embodiment, thereward of the team match event is an attachment object. Instead or inaddition, an element of the video distribution service may be assignedto the distributing users who belonged to the winning team. The elementincludes, for example, a gift object, a medium such as a gem, a coin, ora point, a gacha ticket for lot drawing to select a selectable reward,and a privilege to appear in a real world event. In an event that allowsappearance with the event appearance privilege, a video may bedistributed to express an aspect of participation in the event using,for example, an avatar object. In addition, a title or a rank usable inthe video distribution service may be assigned to the distributing userswho belonged to the winning team.

In the first and second embodiments, when the distributing user selectsan attachment object, the attachment object is attached to the avatarobject. Instead, when viewing users provide attachment objects, theprovided attachment objects may be attached to the avatar object in theorder of the provision for a predetermined time.

In the first embodiment, a possession object included in the possessionlist information 32D is configured to be displayed in a videodistributed by the user. Instead, an object associated with the user maybe usable in a video distributed by the user or another user withoutdistinction between a possession object and a gift object. For example,a distributing user may be allowed to request that a possession objectin the possession list information 32D of the distributing user bedisplayed in a video distributed by another distributing user as a giftobject.

In the first embodiment, the avatar object reflecting motion istransmitted from the user device 12 to the server 13. Instead, datadetected by the sensor unit 24 may be transmitted to the server 13, andthe server 13 may apply the detected data to the avatar data 22B storedin the storage 32.

In the first and second embodiments, the video application program isinstalled on the user device 12 so that a video is viewed anddistributed. Instead, an application program for viewing a video may beseparate from an application program for distributing a video. A userwho only views a video installs the viewing application program on theuser device 12. A user who only distributes a video installs thedistribution application program on the user device 12. A user who viewsand distributes a video installs both of the application programs on theuser device 12.

In the first and second embodiments, various types of information storedin the storage 32 of the server 13 such as the asset data 32B, the usermanagement information 32C, the possession list information 32D, thegift object information 32E, and the event information 32F may be storedin the storage 22 of the user device 12.

In the first and second embodiments, the computer processor 20 of theuser device 12 or one or more other computers may assume some of thefunctions in the distribution manager 30A, the video generator 30B, andthe purchase processor 30C of the server 13.

In the first and second embodiments, the computer processor 30 of theserver 13 or one or more other computers may assume at least some of thefunctions in the application manager 20A, the motion data generator 20B,and the display controller 20C of the user device 12.

In the first embodiment, each of the movement detector, the movementinformation transmitting portion, the first display controller, therequest sender, the video generator, the group registration portion, thecalculation portion, the evaluation portion, the second displaycontroller, and the identification information display may be includedin the server 13 or the user device 12. The server 13 may include, forexample, the first display controller and the second control display. Inthis case, the server 13 may obtain detection data of the sensor unit 24from the user device 12, use the avatar data 22B stored in the storage32 to generate a video including the avatar object, and display thevideo in the display device 28 of the user device 12. The user device 12may include an object display.

In this case, the user device 12 may receive a display request includingidentification information of an object from the server 13 and displaythe object based on the display request. This corresponds to, forexample, when the user device 12 executes a native application of a gameinstalled on the storage 22. When the user device 12 executes the nativeapplication, the user device 12 may include the game content assigningportion and the reward assigning portion.

In the first and second embodiments, the virtual space displayed in thevideo may be a space in an augmented reality (AR) or a mixed reality(MR). For example, the background of the virtual space may be a video ofthe real world captured by a camera of the user device 12. An image ofan avatar object may be composited in the video of the real world.

In the first and second embodiments, the user device 12 is aninformation processing device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, atablet terminal, a personal computer, a game console, and a wearablecomputer such as a head-mounted display. Instead, the user device 12 maybe a system including at least one of the information processingdevices, an input device, and an output device. For example, the userdevice 12 may be a system in which a game console including the computerprocessor 20 mutually exchanges data with the sensor unit 24, acontroller used as the operating I/F 27, the speaker 25, and the displaydevice 28 that are provided separately from the game console. The userdevice 12 may be a system in which an information processing device suchas a personal computer mutually exchanges data with the sensor unit 24,a controller used as the operating I/F 27, the speaker 25, and awearable display used as the display device 28 that are providedseparately from the information processing device. Alternatively, a usersystem for distribution may be installed in a studio for distributing avideo and include an information processing device, the sensor unit 24,the operating I/F 27, the speaker 25, and the display device 28 that areseparately provided.

In the first and second embodiments, the user device 12 includes thesensor unit 24. Instead, at least part of the sensor unit 24 may bearranged on the body of the distributing user or in the vicinity of thedistributing user. That is, the sensor unit 24 may be separate from theuser device 12. For example, the sensor unit 24 may include an emitterthat emits detection light such as infrared light at predetermineintervals and a light receiver attached to the body of the distributinguser. The light receiver receives the detection light and transmits thedetection result to the computer processor 20. Alternatively, the sensorunit 24 may include, for example, a camera that detects a markerattached to the body of the distributing user.

In the second embodiment, the video distribution list displays the teamidentification indication (refer to FIG. 14 ) but may display anotherimage. The team identification indication may be a frame surrounding theimage of a thumbnail or other images in addition to an image displayedon the thumbnail image. The team identification indication may be anattachment object associated with an avatar object.

As shown in FIG. 19 , an attachment object corresponding to the teamsuch as cat ears or rabbit ears is assigned to the distributing user whoparticipated in an event. The distributing user operates the user device12 to select the attachment object and apply the attachment object 302to the avatar object to display.

Procedures for displaying an attachment object so that the team isidentifiable will now be described in accordance with FIG. 20 . When thedistributing user operates the user device 12 to select a team, anattachment object is assigned in accordance with the selected team (stepS120). The server 13 registers the attachment object corresponding tothe team to the possession list information 32D of the distributinguser. The user device 12 displays the attachment object registered tothe possession list information 32D on the display device 28 inaccordance with operation of the distributing user.

The distributing user operates the user device 12 to attach theattachment object of each team to the avatar object of the distributinguser (step S121). Thus, when a viewing user starts viewing the video,the viewing user recognizes the attachment object of the distributinguser and identifies the team to which the distributing user belongs.Selecting of a team by the distributing user may trigger toautomatically apply the attachment object to the avatar object of thedistributing user. The attachment object corresponding to the team maybe included in the possession list information 32D when the videoapplication is installed on the user device 12. The attachment objectcorresponding to the team does not necessarily have to be attached tothe distributing user who participated in an event.

As shown in FIG. 21 , in the collaboration distribution, an avatarobject 111B corresponding to a distributing user who issued acollaboration distribution request may be displayed in the same view asan avatar object 111A corresponding to a distributing user who acceptedthe request. At this time, the avatar objects 111A and 111B wearing thesame attachment object may be displayed. This improves the presentationas compared to a video in another collaboration distribution and expectsimprovement in at least one of the length of viewing time, the number ofviewing users, or the number of times a video is viewed.

In the second embodiment, the motion data is data in which detectiondata of the sensor unit 24 is applied to the avatar object. Instead, themotion data may be detection data of the sensor unit 24 or data in whichdetection data is converted into a format applicable to the avatarobject in accordance with a predetermined format.

In the second embodiment, the parameter of the first evaluation axisrelated to the length of viewing time is used as an average of thelength of viewing time to evaluate the team. Instead or in addition, theteam may be evaluated based on the accumulated total of the length ofviewing time of a video distributed by the distributing user belongingto the team, that is, the length of viewing time in the eventinformation 32F. Alternatively, among the lengths of viewing time of thedistributing users belonging to the team in a day, the greatest one ofthe lengths of viewing time may be used to evaluate the team. Anyparameter related to the length of viewing time of a video may be usedto evaluate the team.

In the second embodiment, the parameter of the second evaluation axisrelated to the distribution state is used as an average of thedistribution days to evaluate the team. Instead or in addition, the teammay be evaluated based on another parameter indicating the distributionstate such as an average of the length of distribution time or themaximum value of the length of distribution time.

In the second embodiment, the parameter of the third evaluation axisrelated to the display request of an object is predetermined pointscorresponding to a gift object. Instead or in addition, the team may beevaluated based on another parameter related to a display request of anobject such as the number of display requests of a free gift object, thenumber of display requests of a paid gift object, or the number ofdisplay requests of a predetermined gift object, which is, for example,an attachment object.

In the second embodiment, each of the movement detector, thetransmission portion, the display controller, the video distributionportion, the first evaluation portion, the second evaluation portion,the third evaluation portion, the rank determination portion, theassignment portion, the object display, and the list display may beincluded in the server 13 or the user device 12.

In the second embodiment, the team is evaluated along the firstevaluation axis, the second evaluation axis, and the third evaluationaxis. Instead, the team may be evaluated along only the first evaluationaxis and the second evaluation axis. When the first evaluation axis andthe second evaluation axis have parameters having the same unit, forexample, the length of viewing time and the length of distribution timemay be added so that the team having the largest total value isdetermined to be in the first place without assigning points based onthe rank.

The computer processors 20 and 30 are not limited to one that performssoftware processing on all processes executed by itself. For example,the computer processors 20 and 30 may include a dedicated hardwarecircuit (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC))configured to perform hardware processing on some of the processesexecuted by itself. That is, the computer processors 20 and 30 beconfigured to be circuitry including: 1) one or more processors thatoperate according to a computer program (software); 2) one or morededicated hardware circuits that execute at least some of the variousprocesses, or 3) a combination of these. The processor includes a CPUand memory such as RAM and ROM. The memory stores program codes orcommands configured to cause the CPU to execute processes. The memory,or a computer readable medium, includes any type of medium that isaccessible by a general-purpose computer and a dedicated computer.

Various changes in form and details may be made to the examples abovewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and theirequivalents. The examples are for the sake of description only, and notfor purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features in each example areto be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects inother examples. Suitable results may be achieved if sequences areperformed in a different order, and/or if components in a describedsystem, architecture, device, or circuit are combined differently,and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or theirequivalents. The scope of the disclosure is not defined by the detaileddescription, but by the claims and their equivalents. All variationswithin the scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in thedisclosure.

As understood from the above disclosure, certain features of theapplication may be expressed as follows.

A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a video viewingprogram, wherein the video viewing program, when executed by circuitry,causes the circuitry to: display, on a display, a list of videos thatare being distributed associated with a plurality of groups, a group ofthe plurality of groups to which a distributing user belongs beingdisplayed as being distinguished from the other groups, the distributinguser distributing a first video of the list of videos: responsive toreceiving a selection operation to the first video in the list, transmitidentification information of the first video to a server; display, onthe display, the first video based on video data including an avatarobject of the distributing user based on movement information that isbased on movement of the distributing user: send a display request todisplay an object in the first video to the server; and display, on thedisplay, results of win and defeat determined based on a firstevaluation based on a length of viewing time of each video for eachgroup, a second evaluation based on a distribution state including atleast one of a length of distribution time and a number of distributiondays of each video for a predetermined period for each group, and athird evaluation based on the display request with respect to eachgroup.

A video viewing method, the method comprising: by circuitry, displaying,on a display, a list of videos that are being distributed associatedwith a plurality of groups, a group of the plurality of groups to whicha distributing user belongs being displayed as being distinguished fromthe other groups, the distributing user distributing a first video ofthe list of videos; by the circuitry, responsive to receiving aselection operation to the first video in the list, transmittingidentification information of the first video to a server: by thecircuitry, displaying, on the display, the first video based on videodata including an avatar object of the distributing user based onmovement information that is based on movement of the distributing user:by the circuitry, sending a display request to display an object in thefirst video to the server; and by the circuitry, displaying, on thedisplay, results of win and defeat determined based on a firstevaluation based on a length of viewing time of each video for eachgroup, a second evaluation based on a distribution state including atleast one of a length of distribution time and a number of distributiondays of each video for a predetermined period for each group, and athird evaluation based on the display request with respect to eachgroup.

A video distributing method, the method comprising: by circuitry,detecting movement of a distributing user that distributes a video: bythe circuitry, generating video data including an avatar object of thedistributing user based on movement information that is based on thedetected movement; by the circuitry, transmitting the generated videodata to a user device of a viewing user; by the circuitry, receiving anoperation to participate in one of a plurality of groups associated witha plurality of videos including the video distributed by thedistributing user; and by the circuitry, displaying a reward based on aranking that is determined based on a first evaluation based on a lengthof viewing time of each video for each group and a second evaluationbased on a distribution state including at least one of a length ofdistribution time and a number of distribution days of each video for apredetermined period for each group.

A video distribution system comprising: circuitry, the circuitry isconfigured to: detect movement of a distributing user that distributes avideo: generate video data including an avatar object of thedistributing user based on movement information that is based on thedetected movement; transmit the generated video data to a user device ofa viewing user; receive an operation to participate in one of aplurality of groups associated with a plurality of videos including thevideo distributed by the distributing user: and display a reward basedon a ranking that is determined based on a first evaluation based on alength of viewing time of each video for each group and a secondevaluation based on a distribution state including at least one of alength of distribution time and a number of distribution days of eachvideo for a predetermined period for each group.

What is claimed is:
 1. A video distribution system comprising: a server;a distribution device; and a viewing device, wherein circuitry of thedistribution device is configured to: detect movement of a distributinguser that distributes a video, and transmit movement information basedon the detected movement to the server, circuitry of the viewing deviceis configured to: display the video on a display based on video datareceived from the server, and circuitry of the server is configured to:transmit, to the viewing device, the video data, wherein the video dataincludes an avatar object of the distributing user based on the movementinformation, store the distributing user in association with one of aplurality of groups associated with a plurality of videos including thevideo distributed by the distributing user, evaluate a length of viewingtime of each video for each group to obtain a first evaluation, evaluatea distribution state to obtain a second evaluation, the distributionstate including at least one of a length of distribution time and anumber of distribution days of each video for a predetermined period foreach group, and determine a ranking of each group based on the firstevaluation and the second evaluation.
 2. The video distribution systemaccording claim 1, wherein each of the circuitry of the distributiondevice and the circuitry of the viewing device is configured to switch,according to an instruction, between a distribution mode and a viewingmode.
 3. The video distribution system according claim 1, whereinevaluating the distribution state to obtain the second evaluationincludes evaluating the number of distribution days of each video forthe predetermined period for distributing users in each group, thenumber of distribution days for each of the distributing users beingequal to or greater than a predetermined number of days.
 4. The videodistribution system according claim 1, wherein the circuitry of theviewing device is configured to: send a display request to display anobject in the video distributed by the distributing user to the server,and the circuitry of the server is configured to: evaluate the displayrequest with respect to each group to obtain a third evaluation, anddetermine the ranking of each group based on the first evaluation, thesecond evaluation, and the third evaluation.
 5. The video distributionsystem according claim 4, wherein the circuitry of the server isconfigured to: determine a first ranking, a second ranking, and a thirdranking of each group based on the first evaluation, the secondevaluation, and the third evaluation, respectively, and assign, to eachgroup, a first point, a second point, and a third point corresponding tothe first ranking, the second ranking, and the third ranking,respectively.
 6. The video distribution system according claim 1,wherein the circuitry of the server is configured to: store anattachment object as a possession of each distributing user belonging toeach group based on the determined ranking of the group, the attachmentobject being associated with a particular part of the avatar object, andthe circuitry of the distribution device is configured to: display theattachment object associated with the particular part of the avatarobject of the distributing user in accordance with operation of thedistributing user.
 7. The video distribution system according claim 1,wherein the circuitry of the viewing device is configured to: display,on the display, a list of the videos that are being distributed, thegroup to which the distributing user belongs being displayed as beingdistinguished from the other groups.
 8. A video distributing method, themethod comprising: by circuitry of a distribution device, detectingmovement of a distributing user that distributes a video, andtransmitting movement information based on the detected movement to aserver, by circuitry of a viewing device, displaying the video on adisplay based on video data received from the server, and by circuitryof the server, transmitting, to the viewing device, the video data,wherein the video data includes an avatar object of the distributinguser based on the movement information, storing the distributing user inassociation with one of a plurality of groups associated with aplurality of videos including the video distributed by the distributinguser, evaluating a length of viewing time of each video for each groupto obtain a first evaluation, evaluating a distribution state to obtaina second evaluation, the distribution state including at least one of alength of distribution time and a number of distribution days of eachvideo for a predetermined period for each group, and determining aranking of each group based on the first evaluation and the secondevaluation.
 9. A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores avideo distributing program, wherein the video distributing program, whenexecuted by circuitry, causes the circuitry to: detect movement of adistributing user that distributes a video, generate video dataincluding an avatar object of the distributing user based on movementinformation that is based on the detected movement, transmit thegenerated video data to a user device of a viewing user, receive anoperation to participate in one of a plurality of groups associated witha plurality of videos including the video distributed by thedistributing user, display a reward based on a ranking that isdetermined based on a first evaluation based on a length of viewing timeof each video for each group and a second evaluation based on adistribution state including at least one of a length of distributiontime and a number of distribution days of each video for a predeterminedperiod for each group.